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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on May 15, 2012

Community Broadband Networks is Back Up

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-networks-back

We apologize for the last week of glitches and errors you have been having in trying to use our site. Our thoroughly incompetent web hosts have been sacked and we have transitioned to a different hosting provider, which should be much better. Some glitches are still being worked out, but we hope the site is… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 14, 2012

Five Reasons Why Privatizing Michigan’s Prisons Is a Bad Idea

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/reasons-privatizing-michigans-prisons-bad-idea/

Both chambers of the Republican-controlled Michigan legislature are pushing to privatize that state’s prisons.  Like a similar bill introduced by Florida Republicans that was narrowly defeated, the Michigan bill would require shifting 1200 inmates to a private prison if 10 percent savings would be gained.   The Detroit Free Press published an Opinion piece by… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on May 14, 2012

Could Securitization Democratize Solar Power?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/securitization-democratize-solar-power/

After Wall Street popularized the term “mortgage-backed securities” in their destruction of the economy in 2008, you could be forgiven for thinking “solar securities” are a pyramid scheme.  But in truth, they may hold the key to democratizing the financing and the ownership of distributed renewable energy. Right now, financing solar typically means looking for… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 5 Comments | Updated on May 11, 2012

Could the U.S. Cut Household Electricity Use by Two-Thirds?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/u-s-cut-household-electricity-two-thirds/

Your mind-blowing chart of the day, courtesy of Arne Jungjohann at the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Source for U.S. use; source for German use; used U.S. average household size of 2.6. Continue reading

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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 10, 2012

New Videos From DC-Net and DC-CAN Highlights Benenfits All Over the City

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/new-videos-dc-net-and-dc-can-highlights-benenfits-all-over-city

We have brought you news about DC-Net before and have even highlighted the community network in our report, Breaking the Broadband Monopoly. Now we want to draw your attention to some videos they have produced. Free WiFi hotspots all over town, secure indoor WiFi for government staff, and hundreds of miles of fiber throughout town… Continue reading

On the Air
Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 10, 2012

Christopher Mitchell Talks Community Networks With Seattle’s KUOW

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ilsrs-christopher-mitchell-talks-wi-fi-fiber-optic-networks-seattles-kuow/

Christopher Mitchell recently spoke with Marcie Sillman on Seattle public radio KUOW‘s Weekday. Christopher and Marcie talked on May 8, 2012 about recent developments in local and national broadband including the April 29th end to Seattle’s free Wi-Fi network. Christopher and Marcie spent some time on challenges and strategies involved in building a community network…. Continue reading

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Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 9, 2012

Community Broadband and Economic Development Presentation – Dallas 2012

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ilsrs-christopher-mitchell-speaks/

Christopher Mitchell recently presented at the Broadband Communities Summit 12 in Dallas, Texas. The two-day event, April 24th and 25th, brought together experts from all over the world to discuss the policy and economic challenges and achievements in broadband. Christopher discussed the new ILSR Report, Broadband at the Speed of Light, and presented information on… Continue reading

Number of Small Firms per 1,000 People, By State
Featured Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 6 Comments | Updated on May 9, 2012

Are Lightly Regulated States Really More Friendly to Small Businesses?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/lightly-regulated-states-friendly-small-businesses/

A new ranking of states based on “small business friendliness” gives low scores to those with more stringent environmental, labor, health & safety, and other regulations. The trouble with this analysis, however, is that many of the supposedly “unfriendly” states are actually home to much larger numbers of small businesses than the “friendly” states. Continue reading

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Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 1 Comment | Updated on May 9, 2012

Romney, Hoover, Eisenhower and that Pipeline

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/romney-hoover-eisenhower-pipeline-2/

After winning the Illinois primary, Mitt Romney delivered a victory speech in which he deplored America’s lost “can do spirit”.  Unsurprisingly, he blamed it on government.  If elected he promised, “We’re going to get government out of the way”.   Then he offered a few examples of what he meant.  “We once built the interstate highway… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 2 Comments | Updated on May 9, 2012

Map of State 3rd Party PPA Rules

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/map-state-3rd-party-ppa-rules/

In lieu of smarter policy, schools, libraries, and city buildings hoping to install solar power have to resort to complex public-private partnerships to access federal tax incentives.  One common strategy is the power purchase agreement (PPA). In essence, a PPA allows the public building owner to buy solar electricity on contract from a third party… Continue reading